For villagers losing land, Hun Sen is last resort
Three separate communities from across the country were in Phnom Penh on Monday to petition Prime Minister Hun Sen to personally intervene to help settle their various land disputes. Communities affected by alleged land grabs in Phnom Penh and beyond often appeal directly to Mr. Hun Sen for help, submitting petitions with his cabinet, even staging protests to wave airbrushed photographs of the first couple and pledge their eternal devotion. But the confluence of representatives from three far-flung communities in Phnom Penh at once—from Banteay Meanchey, Kompong Chhnang and Kratie provinces—was further proof that the government institutions that should be solving their disputes were as broken as ever, said rights group Adhoc. “The commune, district and provincial officials don’t solve their problems because they ignore their cases and wait, hoping they will stay quiet,” said Latt Ky, the head of Adhoc’s land and natural resources program. …
Khuon Narim
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/for-villagers-losing-land-hun-sen-is-last-resort-62200/
